SoCal health VC Summation raises $20 mln – filing

Summation Health Ventures, a Southern California venture firm founded by two large regional healthcare providers, has raised $20 million for a new fund, according to a securities filing.

The firm describes itself as a strategic healthcare investment fund that backs entrepreneurial companies engaged in solving problems for the nation’s healthcare systems. It focuses on early- to mid-stage information technology, device and services companies.

Summation’s two founding companies both operate large healthcare networks in the Los Angeles region.

Cedars-Sinai Health System operates a large hospital and academic medical center in Los Angeles, along with several other healthcare facilities in the area. MemorialCare Health System operates six hospitals in Long Beach, California, and surrounding areas, along with several outpatient health centers.

Summation managing directors could not be reached for comment about the new fund, which appears to be the first under the Summation name in regulatory filings. Separately, MemorialCare has made venture investments through a vehicle called MemorialCare Innovation Fund.

Summation’s website lists two GPs. Brant Heise is a senior managing director and also managing director of the MemorialCare Innovation Fund. Darren Dworkin is listed as a managing director at Summation and CIO at Cedars-Sinai, where he has led the implementation of electronic medical records technology. Summation also has a board of directors, including six other people from the two healthcare systems.

The firm lists 26 companies in its portfolio on its website, which previously raised capital the management team. The investments include several that have exited.